Birinus

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodoxy; Anglican Communion
AttributesBishop, sometimes baptising a king
PatronageBerkshire; Dorchester
ShrinesDorchester Abbey, now destroyed. Small parts survive. Modern replica now in place. (Or Winchester Cathedral, now destroyed.)

Birinus (also Berin, Birin; c. 600 – 3 December 649 or 650) was the first

Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and Anglican
churches.

Life and ministry

After

St Mary's Church was founded.[3]

A

Dorchester-on-Thames for his episcopal see.[5] Birinus's original commission entailed preaching to parts of Britain where no missionary efforts had reached and may have included instructions to reach the Mercians. But he ultimately remained in Wessex.[8]

Birinus is said to have been active in establishing churches in Wessex:[9] foundations ascribed to him include St Mary's in Reading,[10] St Peter and St Paul, Checkendon, near Reading,[11] and the first church at Ipsden, built about two miles from the present church.[12] Birinus baptised Cynegils's son Cwichelm (died 636) in 636[13] and grandson Cuthred (died 661) in 639, to whom he stood as godfather.[14]

Birinus died in Dorchester on 3 December in 649 or 650.[15]

Veneration

Birinus'

Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church,[16][17] but some churches celebrate his feast on 5 December.[15] His feast was added to the Roman Martyrology in the late 16th century.[18] In the Church of England, his feast day falls on 4 September and has the status of a commemoration.[19][20] His relics were eventually translated to Winchester after his death.[21]

A small number of Church of England parish churches are dedicated to Birinus, including those at Berinsfield in Oxfordshire and Redlynch in Wiltshire. The Catholic church in Dorchester, one of the first built after the restoration of the hierarchy[22] by Pope Pius IX, is also dedicated to Birinus.

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ Powicke & Fryde 1961, p. 219.
  2. ^ Walsh 2007, p. 102.
  3. ^ Coles 1981, p. 6.
  4. ^ Bede 1969, 3.7; Thompson 1886.
  5. ^ a b Kirby 2000, p. 38.
  6. ^ Jones, Terry H. "Birinus". Patron Saints Index. Catholic Community Forum. Liturgical Publications of St. Louis. Archived from the original on 13 August 2007. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  7. ^ Thompson 1886.
  8. ^ Kirby 2000, p. 51.
  9. ^ Bede 1969, 3.7.
  10. ^ "Holy Hierarch Birinus", Orthodox Christianity
  11. ^ "History of St Peter & St Paul, Checkendon". Langtree Team Ministry. Archived from the original on 10 June 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  12. ^ "History of St Mary the Virgin, Ipsden". Langtree Team Ministry. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  13. ^ Bately 1986, an. 636; Davis 1912, p. 57.
  14. ^ Bately 1986, an. 639; Davis 1912, p. 57.
  15. ^ a b Livingstone 2013, p. 68.
  16. ^ "St. Birinus". Catholic Online. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  17. ^ Kommodatos 1985.
  18. ^ Farmer 2011, p. 53.
  19. ^ "The Calendar". The Church of England. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  20. ^ Church of England Liturgical Commission 2000, p. 13.
  21. ^ Kirby 2000, p. 49.
  22. ^ "Saint Birinus Catholic Church". Dorchester on Thames, England: Saint Birinus Catholic Church. Retrieved 1 April 2018.

Works cited

Further reading

Christian titles
New title Bishop of Dorchester
634–649
Succeeded by
Agilbertus